Monday, June 30, 2008

A counter culture movement within the LGBT community that is a radical alternative to the mainstream commercialized and assimilation seeking gay community. "Gay Shame" was created and named in opposition to its counterpart Gay Pride.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

"Bent" - A term used within the U.K. as a slang for homosexuals. It also means predisposition, abnormal or unorthodox behavior. Of late the term has been reclaimed and many groups and publications proudly use the term "Bent" as a source of gay pride.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The ever growing Working Families Party in New York has come out in support of Marriage Equality as a basic civil right. The WFP is primarily concerned with labor issues and has used their political clout to get the Democrats to focus more on issues of importance to them. This endorsement of marriage equality is another sign that New Yorkers are ready for equal marriage rights for LGBT people. More on the story here...

Right wing thinktanks and commentators so often talk about the "homosexual agenda" and the liberal media's love of all things gay. You would think there was some queer conspiracy with regards to the media with the way they talk.

Upon closer examination it appears the media is anything but gay friendly. Where was the coverage of the marriages in California? Sure, there was some but the story in my opinion was barely covered. I often hear reporters reference homosexuality by talking about the "gay lifestyle" or seem very uncomfortable or almost mocking and joking about gay lives. Is this the media that supposedly loves and is infatuated with gay people?

Does the media have a bias when it comes to reporting on Queer issues? Are we loved or ignored or treated just like everyone else?

Friday, June 27, 2008

We reported on the Heinz controversy a few days ago. Now there is a petition circulating to ask Heinz to re-instate the ad.

"We petition Heinz to reinstate its Deli Mayo TV advertisement following complaints from 200 people as to its 'offensive' and 'inappropriate' content.

We feel that the decision to withdraw the advert is wrong in the face of a small number of narrow-minded individuals.

By doing so, Heinz have given the impression that they would prefer to cater for the homophobic than the free-thinking, and the decision has provoked upset, brand distrust and outrage among the LGBT community and outside of it.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

SCR 1042, a bill that would place another amendment to constitutionally define marriage on the ballot, is pending in the Arizona Senate. The bill was voted down on a forced floor vote, but a motion to reconsider the bill was approved.

SCR 1042 is scheduled to be re-voted on again this Friday, when Republicans who previously were unavailable to vote will be on the floor to cast their support for this discriminatory legislation. They are two votes shy of making this happen.

Here are some talking points you can use to help write your letter. We encourage you to write a letter in your own words and call your senators.

* This issue has already been decided by Arizona voters when they became the first in the nation to defeat an anti-equality marriage amendment in 2006. * Arizonans have said over and over again that this issue is not a priority. It's time for the Senate to take care of the business that matters to the people of Arizona, like the budget. * This amendment is not necessary. State law already prohibits gays and lesbians from marrying in this state, and the Arizona courts have already upheld this law. Stop wasting time and taxpayer money on this issue. * Stop this divisive and desperate action by a handful of legislators who are pandering to the like of Cathi Herrod and the Center for Arizona Policy, a subdivision of national extremist political groups.

Happy five year anniversary to the major decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Lawrence v. Texas. On June 26th 2003 the high court struck down the anti-sodomy law by a 6-3 vote officially decriminalizing homosexual sex within the United States.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Use of the Purple Rhino dates back to the 1970's as a symbol for Gay power. The symbol never picked up steam but was chosen because the Rhino is usually a docile and often misunderstood creature but can put up a good fight if attacked. It was analogous to the fact that Gays and Lesbians are peaceful and loving but will fight back if bashed.

"The "Florida Marriage Protection Amendment" is slated to be voted on this November. If passed, the amendment will ban all recognition and benefits for unmarried couples, straight and gay. It will block civil unions, domestic partnership and repeal existing protections and family benefits relied upon by millions of Floridians."

Click below for a variety of ways you can help out, Florida resident or not. Such as (volunteering, donating, talking to friends & family, registering to vote, and pledging to vote no)

Please check out the Human Rights Campaign's recently released "Buying for Equality" guide. Whether you pass Exxon-Mobile and don't get gas because they lack a domestic partnership policy, or you make sure to stop at the ATM at Citibank an HRC corporate sponsor. You can make a difference, money talks, and where there is money LGBT equality will follow. Support the companies who support you, and boycott those who seek to oppress the Queer community.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

"The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today urged community members to contact FX Networks to express their concerns about a defamatory claim by an anti-gay activist that will appear, unchallenged, in the June 24 episode of 30 Days.

During the June 24 episode, entitled "Same Sex Parenting," Kati, a woman who opposes gay and lesbian parents and their families, lives for 30 days with gay parents Dennis and Thomas and their four adopted sons. The episode includes the personal stories of kids raised by lesbian and gay parents.

Regrettably, the episode also features a defamatory statement by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, an anti-gay activist organization, who claims: "Homosexuality is associated with higher rates of sexual promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse, and those are all reasons for us to be concerned about placing children into that kind of setting." While there is no credible scientific research that backs Sprigg’s claim - and much that disputes it - the episode presents his assertion as if it were fact and offers no credible social science experts or child health authorities to challenge Sprigg’s assertion. Indeed, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the Child Welfare League of America, and many other child health and social services authorities who support parenting by qualified lesbian and gay parents dispute Sprigg’s claim."

TAKE ACTION:FX Networks:Nick GradExecutive Vice President of Original Programming(310) 369-0949ngrad@fxnetworks.com

"Noted gays are urging the Obama campaign to back away from any consideration of former Sen. Sam Nunn as a potential running mate, pointing to his "No" vote in the 1996 ENDA battle (which lost by only one vote) and his 1993 orchestration of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Monday, June 23, 2008

Heinz Mayonaise has been airing the commercial below within Britain, and it is meant to be comical in nature. Anti-gay activists have raised a storm with Heinz which has decided to pull the ad from TV stating: “It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognize that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it,” said Nigel Dickie, Director of Corporate Affairs for Heinz UK.

“The advertisement, part of a short-run campaign, was intended to be humorous and we apologize to anyone who felt offended,” said Dickie.

"A request from a student at Irmo High to form a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) club at the school has presented a difficult and complicated decision for the School Board. While this club is student-initiated and not school or district sponsored, if the school has permitted the formation of other non-curricular clubs, federal law requires that the school provide equal access to a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) Club. The law is very clear that if non-curricular clubs are allowed at a school, which they currently are at Irmo High, it would be discriminatory not to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) club." More info on the story here. Please contact the board and have your voice heard on the issue. Students should have the right to form a club and be free to have a safe space to discuss issues of concern to LGBT students and allies.

This term within the context of the Queer community refers to people who are questioning their sexual orientation, gender identity or both. They may be experimenting with their feelings and attractions to see what identity would best describe them. The letter "Q" is sometimes added to the acronym LGBT.

"Pride celebrations are our biggest opportunities before the vote in November to mobilize our supporters, and the Equality For All campaign needs your help. We need volunteers to circulate the festivals and parades, asking people to join the campaign to defeat the amendment by giving money or time."

Saturday, June 21, 2008

"A Conservative MP has claimed that gender reassignment is a "matter of choice."

Mark Pritchard, who represents The Wrekin, expressed his view during Business Questions in the House of Commons yesterday.

He said that while he is "not against sex changes" he wants a debate on their cost to the NHS.

"Given the number of sex changes, which are increasing in the United Kingdom year on year, the cost to the NHS, which has scarce resources, and the fact that sex changes are a matter of choice, is it not time that we had a debate about the issue?" he asked Harriet Harman, Leader of the House.

"Many of my constituents do not have access to Alzheimer's drugs or cancer drugs, but neither of those diseases do they have through choice."

While sex change operations are a choice, so is taking medication for an illness such as Alzheimers or cancer. The fact is both are conditions that require treatment in order for the person to live a healthy and satisfactory life. Please contact Mr. Pritchard and share your viewpoint.

You can write to Mark Pritchard, MP at:House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AAor at his constituency office:25 Church Street, Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 1DG.

"The American Civil Liberties Union filed a sex discrimination lawsuit today against Old Dominion Freight Lines for illegally firing a truck driver for impersonating a female after she informed the company that she was transitioning from male to female. A prior EEOC investigation into the firing sided with the driver, Kaylee Seals, finding there was reasonable cause to believe that Old Dominion discriminated against Seals based on sex and sex stereotyping."

R & B Star Usher has this to say about homosexuality in Vibe Magazine's July Edition:

"It can never be bad to have a foundation as a man—a black man—in a time when women are dying for men," he says. "Women have started to become lovers of each other as a result of not having enough men. Are you not studying the stories? Wake up! Black love is a good thing." (VIBE)

In light of this and past homophobic and insensitive comments made in VIBE magazine, tell them you would like to see some positive, fair, and accurate portrayals of LGBT people in pop culture.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

"Animal liberation" and "gay liberation" are two phrases that are rarely heard in the same sentence. But, in fact, the liberation of gay and lesbian people, and indeed the liberation of all people, depends upon the liberation of animals. We must come to understand this, just as we must understand how different forms of bias against people, such as racism and sexism, are interconnected."(Gay-Straight Animal Rights Alliance)

My Take: My Queer identity is so deeply entangled with my vegan identity, the two go hand in hand. I find that for me Gay Liberation and Animal Liberation are married partners. How can I someone who has struggled and continue to be persecuted by society go out and do the same to someone who is different from me? Queers are different purely based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but ultimately we are all people. We share a common bond of love, emotion, and desire to live out our lives freely and openly. The same applies to animals, they look different and act different but we share with them a yearning to be free, to love, and to take care of our families. I believe it is critical to choose vegetarianism to truly evolve as a human being, our opponents use the same argument to debunk all of our liberation and struggles. They invoke the "word of god" to says gays don't deserve equality or that God put animals here for us to eat. God if one chooses to believe in some sort of spiritual higher power also made Queer humans & animals, s/he also gives the option to eat and live compassionately through the vegetarian option. I encourage all Queers & allies to our struggles for peace and justice to join me in choosing veganism the healthiest, most ethical, and eco-conscious lifestyle on the planet. You already have one "alternative lifestyle", why not add another?

Personal Connections:"When a New York City tour bus came to a halt and the passengers aboard started hysterically screaming and pointing toward Nate Walker, he and his boyfriend frantically looked for the cause of the commotion. They were sure somebody was getting mugged. It was only when a person on the bus began heckling did they realize they were the cause of the commotion. They had been standing hand in hand.

“We felt like we were animals in a zoo,” Nate told me. “I felt like I was being demeaned and dehumanized. And because of that experience and many other instances of marginalization, I stand in solidarity with all those who are oppressed, including animals. How can you not make that connection?”

"Both vegans and queers are stereotyped. To identify as both in many ways epitomizes marginalization. John Phillips, Executive Director of the League of Humane Voters of New York City explained, “I came out and went vegan at the same time. Some family members worried I would die of protein deficiency and AIDS. They’d wonder: ‘Which is going to kill him first?" (Satya Mag)

LGBTQ Vegetarian/Vegan Advocacy Organizations & Meet Ups:(Please note some of these may not currently be active, there are also countless more which I am not aware of, let me know and I will update)

VegOut is a social group for gay, lesbian, bisexual,transgender, and queer-friendly vegetarians and vegetarian wannabees."The VegOut vegan potluck is held on the fourth Sunday of each month, and don't miss the VegOutings to local restaurants. For more information, call the recorded message at (212) 802-8655

San Francisco/East Bay, California: Lesbian Vegetarians Unite! Do you feel alienated and isolatedamong your carnivorous friends? Do you long for the support of those whoshare your ethical ideals? If so, join us for ongoing lesbian vegetarianmeetings in the East Bay and San Francisco. Diversity welcome. For more information, write to Martikheel@aol.com.

San Diego, California: Soyboys is a new social group for gay and gay-friendly guys who are vegetarian or interested in a vegetarian lifestyle. We meet at least once a month for potlucks, outings to vegetarian (friendly) restaurants and other social events. Please contact Michael for more information. sandiegosoyboys@aol.com.

Salt Lake City, Utah:GSARA is the Gay/Straight Animal Rights Alliance, working to promote the awareness and advocacy of a culture free of sexism, racism, heterosexism, speciesism, anti-Semitism, and oppression based on class, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, or disability.

Sydney, Australia: Ecogirls is a new social and activist group of vegetarian lesbians. "We are 'physically' based in the Sydney metropolitan area but virtually based everywhere." Write to Lynda for more information.

Tasmanian gay activists are angered that the prohibition on homosexual men from donating blood still exists. Recently the laws have been changed to allow 16 year olds to donate blood without parental consent. The new laws however still prohibit gay/bisexual males from donating blood.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

"Faggot" - A pejorative word describing homosexual men or those who embrace feminine or stereotypical gay male behavior patterns. The origin of the term is controversial but "faggot" has traditionally meant a bundle of sticks and thus in reference to gay men would insinuate the action of burning a gay man at the stake.

The word "faggot" or "fag" has been used predominantly in North America but has spread internationally as a slang word to describe gay men.

In recent years a minority of Queer activists have sought to reclaim the word and wear the label proudly.

Most LGBT people still find the word deeply offensive and it is widely used to disparage people regardless of their orientation and has been included in much of the bullying and violence that occurs in society today.

"The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition is pleased to announce the release of its 2008 GENIUS Survey in partnership with Ernst & Young. GenderPAC works to ensure that classrooms, communities and workplaces are safe for everyone to learn, grow and succeed.

The Gender Equality National Index for Universities & Schools (GENIUS), GenderPAC’s most recent effort to end discrimination and promote awareness, encourages colleges and universities to recognize the benefits of a GenderSAFE campus - supportive equitable and protective for all students. Choosing to participate in GENUIS sends a strong public statement that bullying or discriminating based on the race, sex or gender of a student, faculty, or staff member is not tolerated at your institution"

Fill out the survey at: http://www.gpac.org/GENIUS2008survey, and make sure that we have data for as many schools as possible. Your voice will help us continue to work towards a safe and welcoming environment for every student.

Monday, June 16, 2008

"Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), a school that has received criticism in the past for torturing monkeys in its labs, has officially been outed. Information has been brought to light about ridiculous “gay sheep” experiments that are being conducted at the school. OHSU experimenter Charles Roselli is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to kill homosexual rams and cut open their brains in an attempt to find the hormone behind homosexual tendencies so that these tendencies can be changed. Roselli is also working with experimenter Frederick Stormshak of Oregon State University (OSU), who has surgically inserted an estrogen implant in the bodies of these rams in an effort “to restore tissue levels of estrogen comparable to those of heterosexual rams and affect sexual behavior accordingly.”

In addition to being cruel to animals, these experiments also carry the insidious implication that homosexuality in humans needs to be "cured." In his application for public funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the experimenter states that “this research also has broader implications for understanding the development and control of sexual motivation and mate selection across mammalian species, including humans.”

Please use the form below to write to OSU President Edward Ray and OHSU President-Elect Joseph Robertson Jr. asking that they immediately stop these needless “gay sheep” experiments and use taxpayers’ money for legitimate research instead."

Just a few more hours, 5PM to be exact and California will officially begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Congratulations to the LGBT community in California and to all the couples! We stand proudly with you!

Below a beautiful video of some of the California couples when decision was announced by the Supreme Court by 2015 Place

We are close to reaching 10,000 on the petition to remove Dr. Zucker, Blanchard, and Lawrence from the work group on Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders in the task force for preparing DSM-V, which will be the next version of the APA's diagnostic manual. Read more about the reason these transphobic doctors need to be removed here.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I blogged about efforts by FIERCE NYC to oppose private development of Pier 40 a place where LGBT youth of color and homeless youth in NYC have traditionally been safe to hang out and be themselves. Read more about that here...

Please sign the petition to oppose privatization and support an LGBT youth center!

"Our vote says YES to:

* people coming before profit and a pier 40 re-development plan that does not rely on a private developer

* the needs of the community, including LGBTQ youth, are incorporated into the development plans for pier 40

Saturday, June 14, 2008

The Queer movement has a large number of faces, races, identities, and sets of problems/controversies that we face. What is your #1 issue when it comes to Queer politics, and why? I will list a couple of big ones but please don't feel limited to those select few, obviously different sub-sets and communities within the broader LGBTQIA umbrella have their own set of issues and agendas.

Congressman Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin have announced the formation of the newly formed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The mission of the LGBT Equality Caucus is to achieve the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."

The following are the 52 congressional members of the LGBT caucus. Please take a moment to thank your state representatives for standing up for LGBT equality.

Technically, intersex is defined as "congenital anomaly of the reproductive and sexual system." Intersex people are born with external genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and/or endocrine system that are different from most other people. There is no single "intersex body"; it encompasses a wide variety of conditions that do not have anything in common except that they are deemed "abnormal" by the society. What makes intersex people similar is their experiences of medicalization, not biology. Intersex is not an identity. While some intersex people do reclaim it as part of their identity, it is not a freely chosen category of gender--it can only be reclaimed. Most intersex people identify as men or women, just like everybody else. Intersex conditions are also referred to as "disorders of sex development" (DSD) in some medical literature.What do intersex activists want?

We are working to replace the current model of intersex treatment based on concealment with a patient-centered alternative. We are not saying that intersex babies are better off left alone; we want there to be social and psychological support for both the parents and intersex children so that they can deal with social difficulties resulting from being different than others. In the long-term, we hope to remove those social barriers through education and raising awareness. See Alice Dreger's chart contrasting the two paradigms.

Are intersex conditions harmful?

In general, intersex conditions do not cause the person to feel sick or in pain. However, some intersex conditions are associated with serious health issues, which need to be treated medically. Surgically "correcting" the appearance of intersex genitals will not change these underlying medical needs.How common are intersex conditions?

No one knows exactly how many children are born with intersex conditions because of the secrecy and deception surrounding it, and also because there is no concrete boundaries to the definition of "intersex." It is nonetheless estimated that about one in 2,000 children, or five children per day in the United States, are born visibly intersex, prompting early intervention.

Can't they just do a test to find out babies' true sex?

Medicine cannot determine the baby's "true sex." For example, chromosomes do not necessarily dictate one's gender identity, as it is obvious from the fact that most people born with androgen insensitivity syndrome live as women despite their XY chromosomes. In other words: science can measure how large a clitoris is, but cannot conclude how large or small it needs to be. That is a social determination.

How do we know the correct gender of a child with an intersex condition?

We won't know the child's gender until she or he is old enough to communicate to us. It is recommended that the child be assigned a gender based on our best prediction, and allow her or him to determine for herself or himself once she or he is old enough to do so. Irreversible surgeries on infants should be avoided in order to give them the widest range of choices when they are older. Performing surgeries will not eliminate the possibility that our prediction is wrong.

What is the correct pronoun for intersex people?

Pronouns should not be based on the shape of one's genitalia, but on what the person prefers to be called. For children too young to communicate what her/his preference is, go with the gender assignment parents and doctor agreed on based on their best prediction. Do not call intersex children "it," because it is dehumanizing.

Are there five sexes?

The notion of "five sexes" was popularized by Anne Fausto-Sterling's article "The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female Are Not Enough" published in 1993. In this largely tongue-in-cheek piece, she wrote that three subcategories among "intersex" should be considered as three additional sexes aside from male and female. Unfortunately, the "five sexes" theory does not help people with intersex conditions. In addition to exoticizing and sensationalizing intersex people, the distinction between three additional "sexes"--merm, ferm and herm--are artificial and useless in improving the lives of intersex people. Fausto-Sterling later wrote in Sexing the Body (2000) that she was "no longer advocating" these categories, "even tongue in cheek."

Are intersex people "third gender"?

Many people with intersex conditions identify solidly as a man or as a woman, like many non-intersex people. There are some who identify as a member of an alternative gender, like some non-intersex people. While we support everyone's right to define her or his own identities, we do not believe that people with intersex conditions should be expected to be gender-transgressive just because of their condition.

Is intersex part of "transgender" community?

While some people with intersex conditions also identify as transgender, intersex people as a group have a unique set of needs and priorities beyond those shared with trans people. Too often, these unique needs are made invisible or secondary when "intersex" becomes a subcategory of "transgender." For example, people who discuss about intersex in the context of transgender often stress the risk of assigning a "wrong" gender as an argument against intersex genital mutilation, which overlooks the fact that intersex medical treatment is painful and traumatic whether or not one's gender identity happens to match her or his assigned gender. It is for this reason that we prefer to have "intersex" spelled out explicitly rather than have it "included" in "transgender" umbrella.

What is the difference between "hermaphrodite" and "intersex"?

In biology, "hermaphrodite" means an organism that has both "male" and "female" sets of reproductive organs (like snails and earthworms). In humans, there are no actual "hermaphrodites" in this sense, although doctors have called people with intersex conditions "hermaphrodites" because intersex bodies do not neatly conform to what doctors define as the "normal" male or female bodies. We find the word "hermaphrodite" misleading, mythologizing, and stigmatizing. Although some intersex activists do reclaim and use this term to describe themselves, it is not an appropriate term to refer to intersex people in general. In short, snails are the hermaphrodites; humans are not. Also, please avoid using the word "intersexual" as a noun; we prefer "intersex people" or "people with intersex conditions/experiences."

How can I help intersex movement?

Join us! In addition to volunteering for or making donations to intersex activist groups such as Intersex Initiative, you can help by talking to your friends and family members about the intersex movement. The idea is that the more people are aware about us, the less likely they will accept surgery as the only option when they or someone they know have an intersex baby. Get your community, church or school group together and show documentary films about intersex (available from Intersex Society of North America) or invite us to present.Where can I read more about intersex movement?

Here are some of the recommended resources:

Books

* "Intersex in the Age of Ethics" ed. by Alice Dreger * "One of Us: Conjoined Twins and the Future of Normal" by Alice Dreger * "Sexing the Body" by Anne Fausto-Sterling * "Lessons from the Intersexed" by Suzanne Kessler * "As Nature Made Him" by John Colapinto

"Four LGBT legal groups and five LGBT advocacy groups released a statement Tuesday directed to out-of-state couples planning to travel to California to marry: Celebrate your California marriage with family and friends, but don't go back to your home state and file a lawsuit demanding that your state recognize your union.

The advisory, titled "Make Change, Not Lawsuits," addresses eight questions gays and lesbians may have regarding marriage and outlines a strategy to expand same-sex marriages throughout the nation.

"Pushing the federal government before we have a critical mass of states recognizing same-sex relationships or suing in states where the courts aren't ready is likely to get us bad rulings. Bad rulings will make it much more difficult for us to win marriage and will certainly make it take much longer," the statement read."

Thursday, June 12, 2008

"Lesbophobia" can be described as negative sentiments harbored towards an individual lesbian or a group of queer identified womyn. It is an irrational fear or hatred of womyn who are physically and/or emotionally drawn to other womyn. The term is used to describe a fear of same-sex attraction among womyn, as well as the fear by some men of these womyn for not loving men. "Lesbophobia" can range from the stereotype that all female athletes are lesbian, to the notion that all are angry and hate men, to a subordination of "L" issues within the the broader LGBT rights movement.

"Lesbophobia" unlike its similar counterpart homophobia has a focus on issues affecting lesbian identified womyn not only on the basis of societies stigma based on sexual orientation but also on the sexism that pervades our culture.

"Log Cabin is busy making preparations for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis – St. Paul on Sept. 1-4.

Are you going to the convention as a delegate or alternate delegate? We are keeping a list of openly gay & lesbian delegates and alternate delegates. Please let us know if you are a delegate or alternate so we can make sure not to leave anyone out. jlasalvia@logcabin.org

We are hosting several events, including the Log Cabin Republicans Big Tent Event on Tuesday, September 2. Please let us know if you are planning to be in Minneapolis – St. Paul for the convention, so that we can make sure you receive invitations to Log Cabin's events.* For more information please contact Jimmy LaSalvia jlasalvia@logcabin.org

Sponsorships are still available! You can be a part of the action in the Twin Cities. Sign on as a sponsor of Log Cabin's convention activities.* For more information about sponsorship levels please contact John Sinovic jsinovic@logcabin.org"

"What do terrorists, money launderers, child smugglers and people living with HIV have in common? They're all automatically banned from entering the United States.

After more than twenty years, this outrageous ban against HIV travelers and immigrants needs to go. Today all but 13 countries have recognized the injustice of such a ban: Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Moldova, Russia, Armenia, South Korea and the United States. Tell your senators to listen to the facts and stand up for the rights of people with HIV."

Pansexual is a term that has been growing in recent years as a way for people to better identify their sexual identity. The word Pansexual is derived from the Greek prefix pan, meaning "all". The term is reflective of those who feel they are sexually/emotionally/spiritually capable of falling in love with all genders.

Definition:Pansexuals have the capability of attraction to others regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. A pansexual could be open to someone who is male, female, transgender, intersex, or agendered/genderqueer.

Pansexual FAQ:Do Pansexuals like everyone?Pansexual identified people have the physical/emotional/spiritual capability of falling in love or being with someone regardless of their gender. This doesn't mean they like everyone, and some Pansexuals do have physical preferences. The identity is used merely to express the openness and fluidity to people of all genders.

How is Pansexuality different from Polysexuality?Pan means "all" while Poly means "many" and so there are some similar overlaps, a Polysexual may be attracted to some gender variant people but not have the capability or desire to be with some others. Pansexuals are open to any person regardless of their gender or sex.

Aren't Pansexuals really just Bisexual?Pansexuality is not to be confused with Bisexuality in which "Bi" denotes two genders (male & female) and "Pan" being "all" is open to people who fall at all points or even outside of the gender continuum.

“I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core this issue is about who we are as Americans.

It’s time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let’s enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let’s repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let’s treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.

We are ready to accomplish these goals because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people who are working every day to achieve equal rights -- the gay couple who demands equal treatment in our family laws as they raise their children, the lesbian soldier who wants nothing more than to serve her country openly and honestly, the transgendered workers who ask for the simple dignity of being judged by the quality of their work. Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work we can fulfill the promise of equality for all.

The Obama for America campaign is proud to be actively participating in over 60 local and state wide Pride events over the summer. To find the events nearest you please visit Basic Rights Oregon; join us around the country as we show our Pride and support for Barack Obama!"

"Restaurants around the state will donate 15% of their day’s gross proceeds to Basic Rights Oregon in a fundraiser known as “Bites for Rights.” This 9th annual event encourages Oregonians to “put their money where their mouth is” and support fair-minded businesses by dining out at participating restaurants, coffee shops, delicatessens, bars, and night clubs on Thursday, June, 19th.We are encouraging folks to make a date out of supporting Basic Rights and dine out all day long! Check back soon for sample itineraries.Basic Rights Oregon’s “Bites for Rights” goal is to build partnerships with participating restaurants - located in Portland Metro, Bend, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Ashland, and Astoria – and to garner support for fair minded businesses while raising critical funds to support a fair and equal Oregon."

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

UPDATE: The contest has been pulled from the TiVo website. TiVo has been feeling heat from activists, thanks guys! Focus on the Family still has the contest on their site. Stay tuned for updates and keep up the pressure on TiVo to make sure their partnership ends with FOTF for now and for good!

We told you about TiVo's Super Dad Contest and how their partnership with right-wing group Focus on the Family which is notoriously anti-LGBT will not allow for submissions of gay/bi/queer/trans dad entries.

"Queer Nationalism" - The movement/dream for a homeland for LGBTQ people. Australian activists declared the Cato Islands the "Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea" in 2004. Organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Commonwealth Kingdom, Unified Gay Tribe, and Gay Homeland Foundation embrace the idea of a Queer nation state. The premise is that Queers have a right to a safe and national homeland to embrace their identities freely and grow their culture. They also want recognition by the United Nations and a country where LGBTQ people have all the rights that are not afforded to them in other countries around the world.

Monday, June 9, 2008

I want to give a shout out to this new blog Simply Queer and their great post on Queer Activism.

"1. Donate to Queer-Friendly CharitiesOne of the most silent, but highly important, ways to support the community is through financial support of queer initiatives. As always, make sure that the charity your are supporting is legit; ask to review their financial statements before committing dollars of your own.

2. Support Local Businesses Run by Queer OwnersThere are a number of businesses worldwide which support a queer lifestyle, and they are easy to find thanks to internet resources. You can easily find a number of queer-friendly businesses to support by checking out the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, which runs a list of LGBT owned and friendly businesses in North America.

3. Write Letters to Businesses and Members of GovernmentThe social freedoms which queer people have, limited as they may be, are almost all thanks to the generations of people who made an active political stance for LGBT lifestyles. While picketing and marches are important activities which have made real differences, the simple act of writing a letter or e-mail to those in political authority can make a substantial political impact. If an event occurs in your community which ruffles your queer-aware feathers, grab a pen and paper and speak your mind.

4. Know Who You Are Voting ForDo your research and vote! Support politicians who are committed to make a positive difference for the LGBT and other marginalized communities. Even for those of us who are especially shy about showing our rainbow stripes in public, the private act of voting makes a big public impact!

5. Affirm Others, Especially Strangers, Who Are Openly QueerA couple summers ago, my girl and I were strolling hand-in-hand in Notting Hill, London, and a older gentleman in called out: "Girls holding hands. Never let go! Never let go!" Such seemingly small gestures of warmth from a complete stranger goes a long way in making people feel comfortable expressing their lifestyle in public. Next time you see a queer couple, don't be shy about showing them your pearly whites in affirmation!

"Bakersfield carrot farmer William Bolthouse donated $100,000 to an initiative aiming to fight gay marriage — a measure that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot along with the presidential race. The initiative qualified for the ballot Monday, less than a month after the state Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay marriage. June 17 marks the date when California counties will be permitted to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The National Organization for Marriage California donated $700,000 to the campaign. One of the organization’s largest financial contributors includes Bolthouse, who declined to comment about his donation Tuesday. The measure’s proponents said the campaign to promote the initiative may exceed $30 million. Supporters have spent about $1.8 million to collect signatures and publicize the initiative, according to campaign filings. Other supporters include San Diego developer Terry Caster ($172,000); hotel developer Manchester Financial Group of San Diego ($125,000); Fieldstead and Co. of Irvine ($400,000) and Knights of Columbus Headquarters in Connecticut ($250,000).

According to Wikipedia, Bolthouse sold a 57% majority stake in the company two years ago but his family still controls the remainder."

"AIDS activists arrested last week for protesting the government’s unhealthy anti-gay policies: “The 3 Ugandan LGBT activists that were arrested at the HIV Implementers’ Meeting in Kampala on the 4th of June 2008, have been released on bail this morning. The charges against them HAVE NOT BEEN DROPPED. They have been charged with Criminal Trespass, under Section 302 of the Uganda Penal Code. All have pleaded “not guilty” and were released on a bail of 500,000 UGX ($310 USD)…The case was adjourned to the 20th of June 2008."

FIERCE! is a community organization for Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Queer, and Questioning (TLGBTSQQ) youth of color in New York City. They are working hard to oppose commercial development of Pier 40 which has traditionally been a place for Queer youth to feel safe and hang out. They are trying to build a 24 hour LGBT youth center in its place. Please help with their efforts.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

"Talk show host Jay Leno showed up at the symbolic mass commitment ceremony at the Abbey in West Hollywood Wednesday night to show his support for gay marriage.

Leno - who several times has been criticized for being insensitive towards LGBT people on his late night talk show - said he didn't understand why people are concerned about gays being allowed to marry.

Daily News' Greg Hernandez interviewed Leno at the even:

Greg: What made you decide to be here? Jay: I have friends in the gay community, I mean we live in Hollywood. Who doesn't know gay people in Hollywood? So, they asked me to come down and I said, 'Sure!' I mean, what's everybody afraid of?"

Greg: What do you think about gay marriage in California and all that's happened in the last few weeks? Jay: "Well, I come from Massachusetts and they have it there and the sky didn't fall in, everyone seems to be fine. It's one of those things where it's a matter of time, you sort of ease into it and you see what happens."

Greg: Do you have any friends who you want to see married? Jay: Oh, I have a lot of gay friends. We have a couple of gay couples at 'The Tonight Show' who've been together 7,8,9 years. Whether they want to get married or not...Well, the nice thing about gay marriage is you have TWO people excited about the wedding. In straight marriages, only one person is excited. Gay marriage, both persons are excited.

"But you know what's so funny to me, it's how people miss out on the economic benefits just in terms of catering and flowers and planning. The services that come with it. I see all the companies that have benefited from gay travel. If you look at it, gay people have probably the most disposable income of any group and the businesses that cater to them do very well. So it just seems like common sense. Gas is four bucks a gallon. For me to worry about what Larry and Bob are doing seems sort of ridiculous.

Greg: If (Sen. John) McCain came on your show, would you ask him about gay marriages? Jay: Yeah. I know what he would say because that's sort of what you have to say. But I think things gradually change and that's what happens. Obviously when you put people on the spot and you confront them and you stick a mic in their face, well, they're gonna say one thing. I don't know what would happen if he become president but I know that you just have to kind of ease into these things. Like I said in Mass., people just got married, no protests, no parade. Just, 'Oh, OK. Life went on."

Greg: Were we too hard on you over the whole Ryan Phillippe thing? (Leno was blasted for asking the actor to give him his "gayest look" while guesting. He later apologized for any offense) Jay: "That seemed a little over the top to me, I have to admit. Only because it was not my intention. When I've had straight actors on who've played sexy roles, I'll say, 'Give me your sexiest face.' So, when I said it to Ryan, we had said he's a kid from a Baptist community who was now playing a gay part and I said, 'OK, now give me your gayest look' knowing he wouldn't do it. You laugh and OK fine. Obviously it upset some people. Hey loo, I'm an entertainer, sometimes you annoy people, you make people mad. Alright, that happens. But, I really think there are bigger issues than that. That's a classic case where you're not talking about morality or lifestyle, you're just talking about silly stuff."

Saturday, June 7, 2008

TiVo, the home entertainment company servicing millions of families nationwide, is working with James Dobson’s Focus on the Family on a “SuperDad Essay Contest” for Father’s Day. As you can imagine, Focus on the Family is only looking for one type of “super” dads and they certainly are not part of our community. That a national company many of our families send checks to each month would sponsor a Father’s Day contest with Focus on the Family is horrendous. I need you — all of you — to help us respond.

I won’t often ask you to visit Focus on the Family’s website, but today I am. The Family Equality Council is organizing a response to this discriminatory contest, asking you to nominate yourself or the GBTQ dads in your life. To do so, you have to visit http://www.family.org/fathersday/, sign up for their parenting forums (message boards), and submit your nomination (100 words or less) through the boards. I’m encouraging two-dad families to submit joint stories, highlighting the greatness of both dads in one entry!

In addition, I’m asking that you copy the text of your nomination and email it to OUTSpoken@familyequality.org, so we can feature your beautiful stories and hard work on Family Equality Council’s Blog and with others in our community!

This is a great opportunity for GBTQ dads in our community and their family members and friends to share the real stories of their lives and let TiVo and Focus on the Family know that all dads can be Super Dads!

Others can and should participate, as well. The Family Equality Council has created a petition for parents, family and friends to sign. The petition is aimed at TiVo and will let them know just how many LGBTQ-parented families and supporters are out there! Click here to sign the petition now!

Last summer more than 50 families sent their stories to Adoption.com in response to their discriminatory actions online (read about it here). I want to increase that number 10-fold this year. Let’s send 500+ nominations to Focus on the Family’s “SuperDad” contest and show them how truly super our GBTQ dads are!

Thank you for your time and for celebrating all loving families with us each and every day!"

Bisexuals get the hard end of the stick, they are often shunned by heterosexuals as being "confused", "selfish", "hedonistic" and often times they are rejected by gays/lesbians as being "traitors" or unwilling to admit that they are gay.

Bisexuality is very much a valid orientation as demonstrated by Dr. Kinsey who showed that sexuality lies on a continuum and that we all fall along that continuum to some degree or another.

There has been criticism however of the term and identity of bisexuality in recent years, especially by younger demographics who are having a new understanding of sexuality and gender as we have come to see it.

Bisexuality is the attraction two both males and females. "Bi" connotates two and by definition falls into the gender binary system. What if you are someone who is attracted or has the capability of falling in love emotionally/physically with someone who is male, female, transgender, intersexual, or genderqueer?

Bisexuality is often see as an equal division of attraction to both males and females, but some people do not have a 50/50 split in attraction and have varying percentages of how much they like either gender.

More recently many people no longer claim the term bisexuality, and prefer terms like pansexual or queer to define their identities.

Do you feel Bisexuality is an old and antiquated term, should the term be changed to be more inclusive of all gender identities?

"Dish Network shareholders shot down a proposal Thursday that would bar the company from discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation.

At the company's annual meeting, a representative for the New York City Employees Retirement System — which holds 533,032 shares — floated a resolution to add a clause in the company's equal-opportunity policy that would prohibit discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. More than 90 percent of voters rejected it.

Executives insisted that GLBT employees are not subject to harassment at the company, which follows federal anti-discrimination guidelines, which do not include sexual orientation. The board of directors recommended that shareholders vote against the resolution.

Colorado has an anti-discrimination law protecting gay employees, signed by Gov. Bill Ritter last year. Ergen said the company follows state law in Colorado.

Friday, June 6, 2008

"June 7 Event to Send Message that Parents Love Their LGBT Children “Just the Way They Are”

WHAT: Parents, family members, clergy and allies from across the Gulf Coast region will greet attendees entering the Orlando, Florida “Love Won Out” conference. The conference, organized by the American Family Association, endorses so-called “reparative therapy” for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will greet attendees with donuts, coffee and information on embracing lesbian and gay loved ones.

WHO: PFLAG parents will be joined by supportive members of the clergy from around Orlando, as well as PFLAG National executive director Jody M. Huckaby and Lance Helms, Gulf Coast Regional Director for PFLAG.

WHY: So-called “ex-gay ministries,” such as “Love Won Out,” use out-moded medical theories and radical religious beliefs to justify trying to alter gay and lesbian people’s natural sexual orientation. In 1990, the American Psychological Association (APA) stated that scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good.

"Iris Robinson, is the chair of the Stormont health committee in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Robinson said with help, gay people could be "turned around".

"I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals - trying to turn away from what they are engaged in," she said.

"I'm happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexuals."

Perhaps you would like to remind her that the Royal College of Psychiatrists said that homosexuality is NOT a psychiatric disorder and that she should stick to her day job of politics and representing all people in her district.

Center Link offers a comprehensive listing of LGBT community centers around the United States. There are currently 168 LGBT community centers, and likely one in an area near you! The organization also does work to help foster the creation and development of community centers and programs that benefit the community.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

"KAMPALA, June 4 (Reuters) - Ugandan police arrested three gay rights demonstrators who stormed a major AIDS conference in Kampala on Wednesday in protest at the government's stance on homosexuality, which is banned in the east African nation.

Uganda's government said this week it would not focus any HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes on homosexuals because it is short of funds.

Ugandan courts can punish homosexual acts with life in prison, and even "attempted" homosexuality can draw a jail term of seven years."

Please exert pressure to demand the release of these prisoners as well as tell the government it is time to decriminalize homosexuality.

"The New York State Assembly just voted 102-33 to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and amend the state’s human rights law to include anti-discrimination protections based on gender identity and expression. This is the first time that GENDA has ever made it to the floor of the Assembly for a vote!

We now need you to take a moment to thank your Assemblymember for voting for GENDA. We often call on our elected officials to act on issues that are important to us, and we need to be sure that they know we appreciate what they’ve done once they’ve acted."

OPPOSED Protecting GLBT Americans from Hate Crimes. Senator McCain voted three times against expanding the federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.

PROPONENT of Discriminatory Military Policy. Senator McCain supports Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and does not believe that gays should serve in the military.

OPPONENT of Equal Benefits for Same-Sex Couples. Senator McCain voted for the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits same-sex couples from receiving federal rights and benefits in any state.

ACTIVELY SUPPORTED State Ban on Domestic Partnerships. Senator McCain campaigned for a ban on same-sex relationship recognition in his home state of Arizona – even appearing in a campaign television ad.

SUPPORTED the Confirmation of Anti-GLBT Equality Judges. Senator McCain voted to confirm President Bush’s judicial nominees who had taken anti-GLBT positions. He has pointed to Justice Samuel Alito as a role model for future Supreme Court appointments.

SUPPORTED a Discriminatory HIV/AIDS Policy. Senator McCain supported a Jesse Helms strategy to cut off funding for prevention efforts aimed at the gay community and voted to prohibit foreign nationals with HIV from immigrating to the United States."

Hat tip to Lavender Liberal for this wonderful idea in order to defeat the anti-marriage initiative in California.

The Marriage Equality Youtube group is looking for LGBT folks & allies to upload short videos onto the net to speak out about why marriage equality is so important to you. Whether you are coupled, single, married, or just believe in equal rights please put out the message and broadcast it to thousands of people on the net. The founder of the group will collect snippets from the various videos to make one long compelling film about why Same-Sex Marriage must be secured for Californians and all citizens of the world.

So get those video cameras out and make your case for Same-Sex Marriage! Together our videos can reach tens of thousands of people and get people to vote against the anti-SSM amendment. We can change hearts and minds through our stories.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

"People around the world face violence and inequality – and sometimes torture, even execution – because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. More than 80 countries around the world still make it a crime for men to have sex with men, or women with women. In some countries, the punishment is death. Many laws punish people for simply looking differently, or not living up to cultural norms of “masculinity” or “femininity.

The Yogyakarta Principles – named for the Indonesian city where they were adopted in 2006 by a panel of international experts – lay out clear standards for how governments should end violence, abuse, and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and ensure equality. We urge the United Nations to endorse the Yogyakarta Principles, and to call for an end to violence and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Tell the world’s governments to stop criminalizing people because of who they are or whom they love."